2 Maccabees

History of Heliodorus

While the Holy City experienced complete peace and the laws were followed as closely as possible through Onias, the high priest’s piety and his hatred for all wickedness,

it happened that kings honored the Holy Place and made the high priest richer with their magnificent gifts.

Even Seleucus, king of Asia, paid from his account for the expenses of the sacrificial services.

But a confident Simon, a priest of the tribe of Bilgah and the temple administrator, came into conflict with the high priest regarding the inspection of the city markets.

But he could not prevail over Onias. So he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia,

and reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold wealth, with a large amount of money unrelated to the expenses for the sacrifices, and all of this could easily be brought under the king’s control.

Apollonius met with the king and informed him about the wealth that was revealed to him. The king then sent Heliodorus, who was in charge of his affairs, a letter authorizing him to transfer the treasures.

Heliodorus immediately set out on his journey, claiming he would visit Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but his true purpose was to carry out the king’s order.

When he arrived in Jerusalem, he was warmly received by the city and the high priest, to whom he reported the message that had been conveyed. He explained the reason for his visit and asked the high priest if the report was accurate.

The high priest explained that some deposits belonged to widows and orphans.

Some belonged to Hyrcanus, son of Tobias. This very prominent person had also been affected by these slanders. Overall, the treasury held four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold.

Finally, Onias emphasized that it was utterly impossible to deceive those who trusted in this Holy Place and the inviolable majesty of that temple revered worldwide.

But, following the king’s orders, Heliodorus insisted that all those treasures be handed over to the king.

So, on the day designated for Heliodorus to prepare the inventory, a great disturbance erupted in the city.

The priests, dressed in their sacred vestments, stood before the altar and called upon Heaven: He who gave the law governing deposits should now preserve them for those who had deposited them.

No one could look at the face of the high priest without being deeply moved, for his expression and pallor revealed the anguish within.

A kind of fear overwhelmed him, causing him to tremble from head to foot, showing those who saw him the sorrow in his heart.

People rushed out of their houses in great confusion to pray together because the Holy Place was about to be profaned.

The women, girded with sackcloth from below their breasts, thronged into the streets. The younger girls, who were not yet allowed to go out into the streets, ran to the doorways, while some climbed the walls, and others looked out from the windows.

All raised their hands to heaven and joined in prayer.

It was touching to see such a crowd prostrate in disarray on the ground and the high priest in great anguish.

While they prayed to the All-powerful Lord to protect the temple deposits and keep them safe for those entrusted to the high priest,

Heliodorus began to carry out what had been decided upon.

He had already approached the treasury with his bodyguard when the Sovereign of spirits and all powers caused such a great manifestation that everyone who had dared to accompany Heliodorus was astonished before God’s power, losing their strength and courage.

There appeared a horse with magnificent gear, and on it was a frightening rider. It charged furiously at Heliodorus, striking him with its front feet. The rider seemed to be wearing gold armor.

Two young men, strong, gorgeous, and richly dressed, also appeared. They stood on either side of Heliodorus and kept flogging him relentlessly, delivering one stroke after another.

Heliodorus fell to the ground, shrouded in darkness. His men lifted him up and placed him on a stretcher.

So he was carried away, unable even to help himself—he who just a moment earlier had entered the treasury confidently with a large retinue and all his bodyguards. Everyone recognized the power of God.

Because of divine intervention, Heliodorus became mute and lost all hope of saving his life.

Meanwhile, the Jews praised the Lord, who had glorified His Holy Place. The temple, which just a little while before was filled with terror and fear, now overflowed with joy and happiness because of God’s extraordinary manifestation.

Then some of Heliodorus’ companions begged Onias to pray to the Most High for the grace of life for the man who was near death.

The high priest, concerned that the king might suspect the Jews of foul play against Heliodorus, offered a sacrifice for his recovery.

As the high priest was performing the sacrifice of atonement, the same young men, dressed the same way, appeared again before Heliodorus and, standing before him, said: “Thank Onias the high priest, for through him the Lord grants you the grace of life.

And as for you, who heaven’s command has scourged, make known to all how great God’s power is.” Having said this, they vanished.

Heliodorus then offered a sacrifice to the Lord and prayed at great length to the one who had spared his life. He took his leave of Onias and returned with his guards to the king.

There, he began to witness the works of the Most High God, which he had seen with his own eyes.

The king asked Heliodorus who could be sent again to Jerusalem to accomplish what he had failed to do. Heliodorus responded to him:

If you have an enemy you want to get rid of, send him there, and you’ll see him come back well beaten; that is, if he ever comes back at all, for surely, divine power is in that place.

He who dwells in heaven watches over it and protects it, striking those who come to defile it to death.

This is what happened to Heliodorus and how the Treasury was saved.